Basic press release

MTU Aero Engines: World-class repair techniques

Munich, June 20, 2011 - While other repair people, when faced with a defective part, may be quick to reach for replacement parts, MTU's maintenance experts hesitate; they'd rather repair. Owing to its innovative processes and decades of experience, the world's largest independent provider of commercial engine maintenance services succeeds in repairing also heavily worn parts, components and accessories at an affordable price. MTU's high-tech repair approaches are globally unique, mostly patented and known under the trademark MTUPlus Repairs. "They go easy on our customers' pocketbooks and spare natural resources," explains Dr. Stefan Weingartner, MTU Aero Engines President Commercial Maintenance.

MTUPlus repairs are highly specialized EASA DO / FAA DER-approved techniques that are not under the manufacturer's control but have been developed by MTU Maintenance and approved and certified by EASA and FAA agencies. The techniques run the gamut from automated selective stripping of coatings to specialty high-temperature brazing, and high-precision welding and joining using automated laser machines that were developed in-house.

Parts repair

In parts repair, offerings range from individual services to meet specific needs to the Total Part Care (TPC®) full all-round service that also includes engineering and logistics assistance. As a sole-source provider, MTU Maintenance covers the entire spectrum, worldwide. All repair techniques are continuously being improved and optimized. Key to success are intelligent solutions in conformance with the company's motto that "Repair beats Replacement". Development takes place at the Hannover and Munich locations. In their work, the teams benefit from the decades of expertise MTU has accumulated in engine manufacturing and from its extensive collaboration with research institutions and universities across the globe.

Novel high-tech processes open up new repair opportunities. Special compressor components called blisks initially resisted repair, but that has now changed: innovative technology helps MTU optimally repair these integrally bladed disks. Through patching, defective blades are given a new lease on life. In its military EJ200 program, the company has since developed comprehensive blisk repair capabilities; civil customers, such as the operators of PW300, PW500, CF34, PW6000 and GE90 engines, now also benefit from these developments.

Center of excellence in Malaysia

MTU's center of excellence for blade repair is Airfoil Services Sdn. Bhd. (ASSB) near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ASSB is a 50-50 joint venture of MTU Aero Engines and Lufthansa Technik that repairs CF6-50, CF6-80, CFM56 series, V2500 and CF34 airfoils. The Malaysian location in Kota Damansara boasts a modern machine pool and holds all necessary licenses from regulatory agencies and manufacturers. The shop has been transitioned to flowline operations. The flowline method has been borrowed from MTU Maintenance, where it has been successfully practiced for years to accelerate parts processing.

Accessories

In addition to engine overhaul and individual engine component repairs, MTU Maintenance provides repair services also for engine accessories. These include components that although not directly forming part of the core engine are definitely necessary to sustain its operation, such as starters, fuel and hydraulic pumps, actuators, sensors, valves and pipes. MTU Maintenance offers prompt and reliable repair services for these components at its center of excellence for accessories in Vancouver, Canada, which also provides logistics services for prompt response to customers' needs, the so-called line replaceable unit (LRU) management.

MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s leading and the country’s only independent engine manufacturer. Taken across its affiliates, it has a workforce of about 7,900 people. Having carved out a global leadership position in engine technologies, the company excels in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors as well as manufacturing and repair techniques. In the military arena, MTU is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines flown by the country's military. In fiscal 2010, it had around 2.7 billion euros in sales.

Your contacts:

Eckhard Zanger
Tel.: + 49 (0)89 14 89-91 13
Mobile: + 49 (0) 176-1009 6158

Odilo Mühling
Tel.: +49 (0)89 14 89-26 98
Mobile: + 49 (0) 176-1001 7859